View Profile

Mr Benjamin Rigby, MA, AFHEA

Biography

Ben is an ESRC funded PhD student in the Department of Sociology, having previously read a BA. Sport, Exercise and Physical Activity (2012-2015) followed by an MA. Social Research Methods (Social Policy; 2016-2017) both from Durham University. His Masters dissertation focused on equity in outdoor walking groups used as public health improvement programmes.

Ben is an Associate Member of the North-East UKCRC virtual research centre ‘Fuse’ (the Centre for Translational Research into Public Health).

Ben is a core member of the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences Sport and Physical Activity for Societal Change research theme.

Research Interests

The title of Ben's PhD grant capture is: 'Evidence use and policy implementation in community-based health promotion services'. He is interested in health inequalities and prevailing ideologies in United Kingdom policy systems. His doctoral research primarily explores the conditions within which physical activity policy is developed and implemented. Particular issues of interest include complexity, evidence-based policymaking, policy ambiguity and innovation in local implementation.

Teaching Areas

Ben is a postgraduate teaching assistant on the following module for 2018-19:

Physical Activity and Health Psychology (BA)

Previously Ben has taught on the following modules:

Perspectives in Social Research (MA)

Introduction to Sport Psychology (BA)

Introduction to Physical Activity, Diet and Health (BA)

Indicators of Esteem

2018: Department of Sociology Prize for highest overall Masters in Social Research Methods degree average:

2017: MA Social Research Methods Special Achievement Prize: (highest programme average across Faculty of Social Sciences and Health)

2016: Selected for a studentship from the award winning ESRC funded North East Doctoral Training Centre having been successful in the 2016 competition: There were approximately only 40 studentships available.

Rigby, B.P. (2016), From labs, to leisure centres, to legislation: An exercise in shaping political agenda, Wolfson Research Institute for Health and Wellbeing Physical Activity Special Interest Group Symposium on Exercise Referral. Durham, England.